US cries foul over WTO ruling in favor of Antigua

Dominica News Online - Friday, January 4th, 2013 at 1:14 PM

The United States is protesting a judgement handed down by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in favor of Antigua after the US was found in breach of not allowing access to on-line gambling companies based in the Caribbean island.

A $21-million a year judgment was awarded to Antigua after the WTO declared that US cross-border gaming laws were illegal. The US had refused to allow Antigua-based online gambling companies access to the US market and the WTO had ruled this was unfair.

The judgement was handed down in 2007 and Antigua had sought to negotiate a settlement with the US, however attempts were brushed off, despite numerous rulings in favor of the Caribbean island.

Antigua officials now say the disregard by the US leaves them with no choice but to seek the imposition of the annual fee handed down by the WTO.

If the US refused to pay up, the WTO granted Antigua authorization to collect by other means, including disregarding US copyrights to a value equal to the annual damages owed.

But the US is not happy that the small Caribbean island plans to follow the rulings of the WTO. “If Antigua actually proceeds with a plan for its government to authorize the theft of intellectual property, it would only serve to hurt Antigua’s own interests,” the US said in a statement. “Government-authorized piracy would undermine chances for a settlement that would provide real benefits to Antigua. It also would serve as a major impediment to foreign investment in the Antiguan economy, particularly in high-tech industries.”

A hearing on the matter is set for later this month.

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America has a habit of bullying other countries. The sign treaties and if they perceive other coutries as benefiting more than them, they simply ignore the rules despite court decisions. The Americans only follow rules that benefit them.

Thankfully, even the multinational institutions like the Britton Woods, the international, inter-governmental Organizations like the UN and its bodies have been reacting to the bullying and strong arm tactics of the US in recent times.

In fact, the WTO itself has recently observed and warned that the so called “War on Bananas” led by the US on behalf of its mega investors in Latin America in the 1980s and !990s was one of the same unfair bullying of defenseless, weak poor third world countries.
The WTO has now called for an end to this so-called Banana War- albeit after all the damage has already been done to the fragile agricultural sector and the economies of the ACP countries.

This stance by the U.S.A. and the implied threats to Antigua will not win it many favours.The U.S.A. should abide by the WTO ruling even if they don’t like it. Sometimes you lose and its better to swallow that loss with dignity rather than make a big noise and bully your opponent. The U.S.A. must learn that their laws and regulations do not necessarily apply to the rest of the world.

I have not always seen eye to eye with your contributions ackee but I could not have said it any better save your analysis of China being worse…..I do not think China is worse…..The Chinese have shown the entire world in my view what true power is economic and otherwise…. They are the worlds biggest economy by far but you do not hear them in the media speaking about thier power or flexing thier mighty muscles impossing thier will on people… The Chinese should be respected for their advancments…..Unlike in the word of Vladimir Putin this “Parasite on the World Economy”

Nuff respect to Antigua! It was the same USA that took the poor Caribbean countries to the same WTO and got them to take away the banana protection form their for colonial masters. Yet when the table turn they crying foul

The U.S. has no right to bully smaller nations as it has done in the past. I’m very happy that David striked back at Goliath; big win for our sister island in the Caribbean. Knowing the U.S., they’ll find ways and means to retaliate covertly.

Are you kidding me????? The US continually acts like nothing but a big bully who utilizes scare tactics on small economies………The WTO has ruled in favour of Antigua over and over again….now instead of making a statement of support which says we respect and will abide by the ruling of the WTO etc.. They say this nonesense.. So the almighty US is above the rule of Law? How can a country (which I love)always be ready to police the entire world like God made them Masters of Earth and when rulings by international bodies (of which the US is a part)go not quite the way they view things this is the type of response? I am truly appaled and ashamed of this behavior and frankly there is no other way to describe it other than frankly silly and nefarious.

allan stanford did nothing wrong. he was merely framed in an effort to cripple antigua and barbuda. the usa felt if the framed him and imprisoned him, his funding of the antigua and barbuda government would end and the islanders employed by stanford would suffer more over the government would crumble… the usa tactics caused thousands of savers/investors to lose their money, blame stanford, imprison for life plus, make him a scapegoat for their dirty tricks and many of us agreed that it was stanford who was the crook… now we know, its the usa government and justice system

Like or Dislike: 00wong pingJanuary 5, 2013

butthese people never respect anyone.history has proved that they are very arrogant,and when they give you 10 cents ,they ask for 100dollars in other forms!dig this

“If Antigua actually proceeds with a plan for its government to authorize the theft of intellectual property, it would only serve to hurt Antigua’s own interests,” the US said in a statement. “Government-authorized piracy would undermine chances for a settlement that would provide real benefits to Antigua. It also would serve as a major impediment to foreign investment in the Antiguan economy, particularly in high-tech industries.”

ah yes. threats from the imperialists to small island nations who have defeated you in the courts of the WTO, an organisation that the US, itself was instrumental in bringing into being. the hypocrisy is blinding. Antigua & Barbuda today, another Caribbean island tomorrow.

I live and work in the US. While they may have done many commendable good works in the Caribbean, it is still no excuse for their coercive attitude and behavior. Simply put, the US needs to stop being a bully, admit their wrong doing and pay up!!!

antogua go and follow the wto rulling and try and go after people copyrights and see how fast the little tourism industry u all have there going to fall mess with american financial interests and see how fast the little international airport u have will go under all them american flights that fly to antigua going to go to another caribbean island the wto havent got the authority to tell u to infinge on someones copyrights u messing with the wrog country for that u know how many ways the us can take that 21 million back from a tiny country like urs u all really doh want to go down that road accept ur looses and move on